Human Rights (Short Answer Test)

League of Nations

First intergovernmental organization established after WW1 to maintain peace, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, focused on disarmament, collective security, and negotiation.

United Nations

Created in 1945 with the aims of preventing another world war. Initially ratified by the 5 allies, now has 193 member countries. Goals are to maintain peace, protect human rights, deliver aid, and support development.

General Assembly

Largest and the main deliberative body of the UN, with delegates from member states, meets annually to vote on peace matters, new members, and budget, led by a president for a 1-year term.

Security Council

Maintains peace and security, with 15 members, 5 permanent allies with veto power, can impose sanctions, peacekeeping forces, and authorize force.

Economic and Social Council

Handles economic, welfare, and social development matters. Has 54 members elected for 3-year terms, overseeing 30 subsidiary bodies.

International Court of Justice

UN's judiciary body for international law matters, with 15 judges nominated by the General Assembly and selected by the Security Council.

Secretariat

Manages UN's daily actions, led by a Secretary-General elected for a renewable 5-year term by the General Assembly.

Trusteeship Council

Currently suspended, oversaw UN trust territories' transition into independent states, with 5 permanent Security Council members.

International Human Rights Law

System of international norms protecting people's lives, guaranteed by treaties, customary law, and soft law.

Geneva Conventions

Set of treaties protecting victims of armed conflicts, including wounded, sick, prisoners of war, and civilians.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

Adopted in 1948 by the UN General Assembly, outlines fundamental rights and freedoms for all individuals, regardless of identity.

Ratification

Formal signing or consenting to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid.

1st geneva convention

1864, protects people who are wounded and sick during war, as well as medical religious personel, medical units and medical transport. Recognises distinctive emblems and the rights they have.

2nd geneva convention

1907, protect wounded, sick and shipwrecked members of armed forces at sea and provides protection for hospital ships, coastal rescue crew, medical aircraft, religious personel and medical personal performing duties at sea.

3rd geneva convention

1929, defines a prisoner of war, conditions and places for captivity. States pow’s must be released and repatriated as soon as possible after the war.

4th geneva convention

1949, protects civilians. Deals with the status and treatment of protected people, obligations for the occupying power, provisions for humanitarian relief, safety of hospitals and other safe zones.